US2495865A - Popcorn machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan, 31, 1950 POPCORN MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. R. PERKINS 2,495,865

Filed Oct. 30. 1947 a. *m 2::- 60-" I;

t id o INVENTOR.

RON/4Z0 PEEK/N5 BY Jim 31, 1950 R. R, PERKINS 2,495,865

POPCORN MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 19 .7 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. I

ATTKS:

Jan. BE, 1950 R. R. PERKINS 2,495,865

POPCORN MACHINE 7 Filed Oct. 50, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR RON/4L0 PfR/O/VS Jan. 311., 1950 R. R. PERKINS 2,495,365

POPCORN MACHINE Filed 001:. 30, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 311 R950 R. R. PERKINS 2,495,865

POPCORN MACHINE Filed 001;. 30, 1947 8 She ets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

RON/4Z0 Pf/F/O/VS BY Jan. 33, 1950 R. R. PERKINS 2,495,865

POPCORN MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

RON/4L0 PfR/U/V WVgM ATTYS.

jam 31, 1950 R. RJPERKlNS 2,495,865

POPCORN MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN V EN TOR.

am 331 150 R. R. PERKINS 2,495,865

POPCORNYMACHINE Filed Oct. 50, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

l atenieei Jan. 31,

UNITED STATES TENT osnce i invention rei'ates to popcorn machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which is particularly designed. for popping po corn and "which includes a stationary heating means, a rotary agitator, and a 'Vertiball'y shift able cover.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of this k i'fid which can be used for making popcorn, or for cooking meats or other food products.

A further object of this invention is t'o provide a machine of this kind which will pop large or small quantities of corn with equal efiiciency, the pop-pee com being visible through a transparent kettie or cover which is disposed in invetted position over the hot plate, and the kettle or cover being verticallyshiitable from an operative position overlying the het plate to an inop' erative osition spaced above the-hot plate. The

kettle or cover is c'onneetefi to an elevator which is manually controlled and when in lowered operative position is coupiedto power member for rotation of the kettle or cover andan agitating means fixed reiative to and rotatable with the kettle or cover. I

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the iriventioh on s'ists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement 03 parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes,

variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section, artly broken away and in detail, of a popcorn machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. I I

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 1. I

I Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of the upper portion of the device;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cover and lower pan. I t

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a eeteued'reer elevation ef the device showing the cover in elevated positioii Figure '7 is a sectional View taken on the line 1-4 of Figure 3.

6 Claims. (01. 99- 2333) Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken-oh the line 9 -47 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section, partly: in elevation, of a ihoiii'fied form of this ihv'ehtio'n. I I

Figure 11 item fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section, oh an enlarged Scale or the upper 'pertitn of the modification shown in mee -Q. 4

Fig re 12 is'a sectional view taken on the line ifiiitof'F'iguie 11. I

t ere 13- ts a fraeteeterysectionel View taken on the the W4 set Fig'ii're 10. I

Figur 14' frag-menteiyseetiofiai view taken on the line s zi-M er Figure 13. I

Eigtue 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken the liners-l 5 of Figure 14'.

Figure it is a ragmentetyseetional view taken oiitiielinei e-' l It of Figure 15. I

Figure 17 is afragn entary'sectiorial view taken o'nthe lihe i1-l ttf Figure 13. I

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken o the line it i'e er Figure 10. Referrmg to the drawihgs and first te Figures 1 to" e, inclusive, th numeral 22 de'sigh'ates genemiiy an upright heating which shown in Figurez i s substahtially'reotah mar plan being rei me i with eppesite siee wall and 22, a rear Wall is ,aii'd a bottom Wall 3. An utter horiteeter ail i s fixed between the opposite side and em walls being disposed as shown Fi'g- 1 at poiht spaced; downwardly item the etiges of the side and end walls.

The frtet of the ousing is preferably open. A trey 2 1's disposed stove the Wall 25 and formed at its-outer margin with en upwaraly offset amulet rib 27. A verti-eel eylihiii'ioal shift 23 extendsdownwardly from the rib orb'eaci 21 and is eeptee te ns-age on the uppersie'e of the heti'z'entarwe r 25. The trey which includes the central plate 26, the'beaei 21 ar d the cylindrical Ski-l tes is xedly secure to upper Wall 25 by means er 'a mute bolt is white is formed at it's u ,1 end Withah' ahhiflar'rib 'eiigaging oh the timber S de of the tray 26. The belt 23 exteiitisthi'oiigli a o'e'ntrai opeliii'ig iil formed iii the wail 2'5 arid upper and lower lock huts 32 and 3a respectively, secur -th beit 29 to the wen 25. A vertie' n dgspes'eq agitator shaft at rotatabli engages through theb'o're st er thebelt 29, tending tel w the wet it arid iotatabiy meun'ted in u right bearin pest 3t whieh is 'fii ee'at its let/e1 e'n'ci' at 3! t tnetottem wen 2:1; A motor supporting bracket 38 is disposed in the lower portion or lower compartment 35 of the musing team th braeket 32 at its oute end is seeur'ea te angle member 4 0 which is fixed" to the inner side of the rear wall 23. The bracket 33 is formed at its inner end with a clamp 4| which engages about the bearing post or standard 36.

A motor platform 42 is secured to the bracket or support 38 and a motor 43 is mounted on the platform 42. The motor 43 has a shaft 44 which is connected with a speed reducing means 45 of conventional construction and a driven shaft 46 extends from the speed reducing means 45 and has a bevelled gear 41 on its inner end which meshes with a bevelled gear 48 fixed to the agitator shaft 34. The shaft 34 has fixed thereto an agitating means enerally designated as 49 which engages on the upper side of the tray. The agitating means 49 includes a plurality of radially extending rods 56 which are formed at their outer ends with upturned outer portions I engaging closely about the concave surface 52 which is formed between the margin of the tray member x 26 and the annular bead 21.

Each rod 56 is also formed at its inner end with an upturned member 53 which is adapted to be welded or otherwise fixedly secured to a collar 54 which is fixed by means of a set screw 55 to it;

A top plate 59 is mounted on the upper end I.

of the shaft 34, the latter being reduced in diameter as indicated at 66 and having a plate 6I of substantial thickness disposed about the reduced portion 66. The top plate 59 bears against the plate GI and is fixedly secured relative thereto by means of a nut 62. A pair of closure plates 63 are hingedly secured as at 64 to the plate 59 and are adapted when in open position to be raised to a substantially vertical position as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 3.

The tray 26 is adapted to be heated from below by means of an electrical heating unit 65 which is of annular configuration and is secured to the lower side of the tray or plate 26 by means of clamping bars 66 through which bolts 61 engage. The bolts 61 are threaded into depending bosses 66 which are formed on the lower side of the tray or plate 26. The heating unit 65 is adapted to be connected to a switch 69 by means of a conductor l6 and a conductor II also connects the motor 43 with the switch 69.

In order to provide for raising and lowering of the cover 56, the shaft 34 has secured thereto below the wall 26 a collar 12. A cover operating lever 23 is rockably mounted as at 14 on a bracket '55 which is fixed to the rear wall 23 and the lever I3 is adapted to straddle the shaft 34 having secured thereto a short length of bar 16 which is formed with an offset intermediate portion, thereby providing a space through which the shaft 34 may loosely engage. The lever I3 is formed with an obtusely disposed and downwardly extending outer portion 11 terminating in an obtusely inclined handle I8. A spring 19a is secured to the inner end of the lever I3 at a point rearwardly from the pivot 14 and the spring 19a. is secured at its lower end to an eye bolt 86a which is fixed relative to the platform 42.

The cover 56 is adapted to move downwardly by gravity and is held in its uppermost inoperative position by the spring 19a resiliently holding the lever I3 in the dot and dash position shown in Figure 1. The lever 13 is held against upward swinging under the action of the spring 19a by means of a spring-pressed bolt I9 which is slidable in guides 86 carried by the outer lever portion '51. The bolt 79 includes a right-angular inner portion 8| terminating in a hook 82 which is adapted to engage a keeper 83 fixed on the upper end of the bearing post 36.

Referring now to Figures 10 to 18, inclusive, there is disclosed a modified form of this invention. A heating means 84 including a tray and electrical heater similar to that disclosed in Figures 1 to 9 is mounted on a centrally disposed hollow post 65. The combined tray and heater 84 has a cover 86 mounted on the upper side thereof which is identical with the cover 56 and is secured to a shaft 81 extending downwardly through a threaded bolt 88 which extends centrally through the post 85. The post is formed with an opening 89 through which the electric cables 96 to the heater are adapted to be extended. The supporting post 85 is mounted on the upper side of a receiver bottom wall SI which is disposed within a housing 62. Bottom wall 9| has extending upwardly therefrom a cylindrical side wall 93 and the side wall 93 is substantially greater in diameter than the diameter of the tray and heater member 84 so that the popped corn may overrun the tray and drop into the receiver, generally designated as 94 and comprising the bottom wall 9i and the side wall 93. The shaft 81 is journalled at its lower end in an upstanding aearing 95 which is secured to a supporting bar or plate 96 fixed in the lower portion of the housing 92. A motor platform 91 is secured to the upper side of the supporting bar or plate 96 and a motor 98 is mounted on the platform 91.

The motor 98 has a shaft 99 which is connected through a coupling I66 to a speed reducing member I6I of conventional construction. The speed reducing member I6I has a driven shaft I62 extending therefrom on which a bevelled gear I63 is secured and the gear I63 meshes with a gear I64 which is fixed on the vertical shaft 81.

In order to provide for raising the cover 86, I have provided a cover elevating lever I65 which is disposed horizontally below the bottom wall SI and is pivotally mounted as at I66 on a bracket I61. The lever I65 has rotatably mounted thereon a pulley I68 which is secured to the lever I05 between the ends of the lever and a cable I69 is trained about the pulley I68. The cable I69 extends from diametric sides of the pulley I68 in a pair of runs I I6 as shown in Figure 13 and these two runs I3 are then trained over a pair of pulleys III which are rotatably carried by a horizontal shaft II2 which is fixed on the upper ends of a pair of upright supporting bars I I3. The two runs of the cable I69 are then extended downwardly on opposite sides of the shaft 81 and are secured in a washer I I4 which loosely engages about the shaft 81 and bears at its upper side, shown in Figure 18, against a collar H5 which is fixed by means of a set screw I I6 to the shaft 81.

The lever I65 on its lower side slidably engages a guide bar I H which is fixed to the lower side of the receiver bottom wall 9I. The lever I65 at its outer end portion is formed with a downwardly offset extension I I8 on which a latching bolt I I9 is pivotally mounted as indicated at I26. A looped guide I2I is fixed relative to the extension IIB as shown in Figure 14 and the bolt II9 loosely engages through the guide I2I. The bolt H9 is adapted to engage a keeper member I22 which is fixed to the forward portion of the bottom wall 9i as shown in Figure 10 so that when the lever I05 is swung forwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figures 13 and 16, the bolt H9 will ride over the tapered r inclined keeper I22 and will gravitatingly engage behind this keeper as shown in Figure 16 so as to thereby lock the lever I in its elevating position.

In the use and operation of this invention and referring first to Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, the popcorn is placed in the tray 26, the closures 53 of the cover being elevated or raised as shown in Figure 3, to permit discharge of the popcorn inside the cover 56 and onto the tray 26. The motor 63 is connected with the source of current supply through the switch 69 and closing of the switch 69 also energizes the heater unit 65. In the operating position lever 13 is latched as shown in full lines in Figure 1. The rotation of the shaft 34 by the motor 43 will cause the popcorn in the tray 25 to be agitated as it is heated and when the popcorn has been popped the cover 56 is raised by unlatching the lever 13 and raising this lever to the dot and dash position shown in Figure 1. Spring 59 will hold lever 73 in its uppermost position. The popcorn, no longer laterally supported by the cylindrical cover wall 51, will spill out over the bead 51 on the tray 26 and Will then drop into the upper portion of the housing 26 on the upper side of the wall 25. The device shown in Figures to 18, inclusive, will operate similar to that for Figures 1 to 9, with the exception that the closure 86 is elevated by horizontal swinging of the lever I05.

I claim:

1. A popcorn machine comprising an upright casing, a heater housing on the upper end of said casing, said housing including a cylindrical side wall and a top wall formed with upwardly curved marginal edges, said top wall constituting a hot plate, a heating element in said housing, a vertically disposed rotary shaft extending through said housing, a cover fixed to said shaft and adapted when in lower operative position to overlie said top wall, agitating arms fixed to said shaft above said top wall, a power member in said casing, a driving connection between said power member and said shaft, and means in said casing correlated with said shaft for moving the latter endwise.

2. A popcorn machine comprising an upright casing, a heater housing on the upper end of said casing, said housing including a dished top wall and a cylindrical side wall, a. cover, a shaft fixed to said cover rotatably extending downwardly through said housing and into said casing, a heater in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator fixed to said shaft and adapted when in operative position to be disposed closely adjacent the upper side of said top wall, a cover fixed to said shaft and engaging about said agitator, and means for elevating said shaft and cover, said latter means including resilient means for normally holding said shaft and cover in an upper inoperative position.

3. A popcorn machine comprising an upright casing, a heater housing on the upper end of said casing, said housing including a dished top wall and a cylindrical side wall, a cover, a shaft fixed to said cover rotatably extending downwardly through said housing and into said casing, a heater in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator fixed to said shaft and adapted when in operative position to be disposed closely adjacent the upper side of said top wall, a cover fixed to said shaft and engaging about said agitator, and means for elevating said shaft and cover, said latter named means including a rock lever carried by said casing, and a collar fixed to said shaft and engageable by said lever upon upward rocking thereof for raising said shaft to inoperative position.

4. A popcorn machine comprising an upright casing, a heater housing on the upper end of said casing, said housing including a, dished top wall and a cylindrical side wall, a cover, a shaft fixed to said cover rotatably extending downwardly through said housing and into said casing, a heater in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator fixed to said shaft and adapted when in operative position to be disposed closely adjacent the upper side of said to wall, a cover fixed to said shaft and engaging about said agitator, and means for elevating said shaft and cover, said latter named means including a rock lever carried by said casing, a spring constantly urging said lever to an upper position, and a collar fixed on said shaft engageable by said lever for raising said shaft to inoperative position.

5. A popcorn machine comprising an upright casing, a heater housing on the upper end of said casing, said housing including a dished top wall and a cylindrical side wall, a cover, a shaft fixed to said cover rotatably extending downwardly through said housing and into said casing, a heater in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator fixed to said shaft and adapted when in operative position to be disposed closely adjacent the upper side of said top wall, a cover fixed to said shaft and engaging about said agitator, and means for elevating said shaft and cover, said latter means including a horizontally swingable lever carried by said casing, a flexible operative connection between said lever and said shaft, and latch means for locking said lever in a shaft elevating position.

6. A popcorn machine comprising an upright casing, a heater housing on the upper end of said casing, said housing including a dished top wall and a cylindrical side wall, a cover, a shaft fixed to said cover rotatably extending downwardly through said housing and into said casing, a heater in said housing, means for rotating said shaft, an agitator fixed to said shaft and adapted when in operative position to be disposed closely adjacent the upper side of said top wall, a cover fixed to said shaft and engaging about said agitator, and means for elevating said shaft and cover, said latter named means including a rock lever carried by said casing, a spring constantly urging said lever to an upper position, and spring-pressed latch means for latching said lever in a lower position.

RONALD R. PERKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,441,941 Shafter May 18, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,103 Great Britain A. D. 1895

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